Ask the Dental Experts

2008-12-15T11:27:00.001-08:00

Is it possible to eat normally with a full frontal bridge, for example biting into an apple? Can one be put in place with minimum shaping of the teeth or will they be permanently disfigured? If implants are an option, can it be performed with local anesthesia only. I''m not to comfortable with being put out. Thanks

An anterior bridge(front) can be very strong but of course not as strong as your natural teeth. It also depends how many of your front are missing.. When preparing the teeth for a bridge they do have to be shaped so that the dental lab has enough to room to place the metal and then stack the porcelain so that the bridge looks natural and not bulky. The more teeth that are missing the weaker the bridge will be. If you want implants, you can do the procedure under local anesthetic, however you want to make sure that the implants will be esthetically pleasing and not have alot of metal showing.

I hope this has helped you in deciding what to do, if you have any further questions,please don''t hesitate to call us at:1-888-790-0309.

2008-12-09T07:04:00.001-08:00

I am 32 years old and I have been fighting Periodontitis since I was 18 year old. I have been through multipal surgeries and bone grafts. I am not a tobacco user. I also have deep cleanings done 4 times a year and I still have very deep pockets, some are as deep as 8mm. Doctors believe that my case is genetic since my dad lost his teeth in his late 30''s and very early 40''s. I have been reading up on this Laser Therapy and would like to know if I would be a good candidate for it? Also, how much does it cost? How many treatment does it normaly take?

Thanks for your inquiry. Apparantly, you are very knowledgable about periodontal disease. You would most likely be a candidate for laser periodontal therapy. Anyone with periodontal disease can be treated with the Periolase The first thing that you need to do is to find a dentist that has one. I have provided a link to their web site. I want to emphasize to you that there are many dentists that have lasers, but the Periolase MVP-7 is the only one that is FDA approved to treat periodontal disease. I also want you to remeber that even though your periodontal disease can be treated, you need to remeber that your genetic makeup will how an effect on your treatment outcome.

Dale J. Brant, DDS

888.790.0309

2008-11-18T10:16:00.001-08:00

Hello,I have a receding gum line but only over one tooth. It''s very embarrassing since it''s one of my front teeth. Could this be gum disease? What can I do to prevent this. I noticed that It gets a bit sore only for about 3 days every other month. Any advice?

Hello Amanda! I think it would be a great idea if you came to our office so we could see exactly what is going on with your tooth. Have you had your teeth cleaned lately? The recession could be from periodontal(gum) disease or it could be from your occlusion. Is your lower tooth hitting your upper tooth. Do you think you fractured your tooth?

Please call us at 1-888-790-0309 for an appointment.

Elizabeth O''Sullivan-WinslowDDS

2008-11-17T07:52:00.001-08:00

I have very small teeth and was thinkingof getting something done about because im very concious when i smile or laugh but my friend suggested that i might have too much gum and i could get it removed, could that be the problem and if so is there a precedure i can get?

Cosmetic dentistry involves not only the teeth, but the soft tissues. A part of cosmetic restoration often involves reshaping or treating the gum tissue. You should have a comprehensive exam that looks at any possible periodontal issues as well as the cosmetics of the level of the soft tissue. It can dramatically change the look of the smile.

Chuck Campbell, DDS

713-795-5905

2008-11-12T08:09:00.001-08:00

hey i was wondering if you could answer the questions i have about my teeth. First of all i have had braces for about 2 years now but the gum on my bottom teeth seems to be receding. Sometimes theres blood after i brush my teeth but its rare. Is my gum receding because i brush too hard or do i need help... how can i recover the gum line or is it not possible?

First of all, I think you should wait until your braces come off because you have had alot of tooth movement , which may be causing some of your recession. Once you have your braces removed, I would suggest that you go to a periodontist (gum specialist) for an evaluation. He may have to do some form of tissue grafting to cover up the recession. which will help restore your gumline.

I hope this has helped you and if you have any further questions, please don''t hesitate to call us at:1-888-790-0309

2008-11-11T06:43:00.001-08:00

How much does the surgery cost?

Thanks for your inquiry. It is extremely difficult to tell you how much gum surgery can cost. We first havre to determine what your needs are. You may have periodontal disease in addition to needing to have excess gum tissue removed. The first step wouled be to have a complete dental evaluation. That way you and your dentist will know what your needs are and then what will be needed to treat your problems. I hope this helps.

Dale J. Brant, DDS

888.790.0309

2008-11-10T10:04:00.001-08:00

i have what its called a gummy smile along with several embarissing gaps...its invisaling right for me

You need a comprehensive examination with orthodontic treatment in mind. Invisalign is a terrific tool, but it has some limitations. The "gumminess" of your smile can lead to different types of treatment, depending upon the severity.

Chuck Campbell, DDS

713-795-5905

2008-10-30T10:08:00.001-07:00

Why do sweet things make sensitive teeth hurt? I know its the nerve and I understand why cold or heat hurts but why sweets?

When there is sweet sensitivity, we would be looking for decay -- and it can be a tiny amount... It can be new decay or recurrent decay around an existing filling or crown.

Chuck Campbell, DDS

713-795-5905

2008-10-30T08:15:00.001-07:00

Hi,a couple of days ago I was having some throbbing in my upper jaw and headache in temples, pressure in head as well. (The jaw and temple aches have gone away.) My back tooth is and was sensitive as well. Know it just seems to hurt directly in the center for the first two bites that I take and then goes away. Could this be due to maybe my sinuses bothering me? I have had work on this tooth before and it is sensitive to hot and cold. I just had a dental appointment within the past 6 months and nothing was said about that tooth. Thank you for your time, Kim Brown

Thanks for your inquiry. From what you are telling me the tooth may need to have a root canal. Especially, if it has hot and cold sensitivity. This usually is a big indicator that a tooth needs a root canal. The first thing that you need to do is to go back to your dentist and have them evaulate this tooth. It may be your sinus, but with the symptoms that you have given me, it may be the beginning of an abscessed tooth. Again, I want to thank you for your inquiry.

Dale J. Brant, DDS

888.790.0309

2008-10-30T08:00:00.001-07:00

Im 19 years old and my gum line is receding. what can i do to stop any further damage

If your gums are receding,you need to have them evaluated by your dentist. Several factors may be involved, you might have recession due to periodontal disease,malocclusion or you might be grinding your teeth.

If you don''t have a dentist,please call us at 1-888-790-0309.

2008-10-27T13:32:00.003-07:00

I am a 20 yr. old college student and i have really crooked teeth, some cavities, and overall a bad smile. I would really like to be able to feel like all the other students and smile like them as well. I am afraid braces wont work due to having fragile teeth. I would really appreciate advice or anything you can give! Thank you!

Easy answer -- begin the process. You have to start with a clean slate (no cavities), so begin having that treatment done. If any of your teeth are fragile, it can be strengthened to allow for the ortho treatment. Orthodontic treatment often is the ideal treatment to end up with a symmetrical and beautiful smile. It is worth it...if you are wishing for that end product, begin the process ASAP. you will be excited with the outcome and enjoy it for your life.

Chuck Campbell, DDS

2008-10-27T13:32:00.001-07:00

Chuck Campbell, DDS

2008-10-27T12:48:00.001-07:00

I have severe pain because of a tooth coming in i need a dentist right away for some sort of pain med. or antibiotics. Where is the best place to do this.I work out of town and only home on the weekends? I need med. asap

If you are in alot of pain, I would suggest you find a dentist in or around your workplace. You might have to take off work. In order to have pain medication prescribed to you, you need to call and come in for a dental exam by the dentist ,so it can be determined what exactly is your problem.

Please don''t hesitate to call our office for an appointment at: 1-888-790-0309

2008-10-14T08:39:00.001-07:00

what do u suggest for such teeth........? i m having mild fluorosis...

Thanks for your inquiry. There are several solutions to your problem. The least invasive is to try and bleach your teeth. Sometime this works for fluorosis. It usually takeas a lot more time to bleach your teeth than a tooth that does not have fluorosis.

The next option would be to veneer the teeth. This is the best way to solve your problem. With a porcelain veneer you will be able to get the shade and shape that you would like. Porcelain veneers are a good way to solve your problem.

Dale J. Brant, DDS

888.790.0309

2008-10-14T08:30:00.001-07:00

after invisalign is paid in full and you begin your treatment what else can i be expected to pay for with regards to just invisalign? like if i need more molds taken for a case refinement do i have to pay for that? how does that work? you know, like, if i need more aligners? thank you very much for your assistance!

This would vary according to your agreement with your doctor and the circumstances. Every case is different and has different requirements. Ask your doctor to clarify.

Chuck Campbell, DDS

2008-10-08T11:26:00.001-07:00

I have a tooth that I am afraid is going to have to be extracted. It is severely decayed and I have been trying to save for a root canal, but after the hurricane money is tight and I now have exposed nerve, so I need to get this tooth out soon. It is the back, top-right molar. How much will my other teeth shift after this tooth is pulled?Are there any major consequences of extracting that tooth?Thank you!

Here at the Medical Center Dental Group we try to save teeth. However sometimes the tooth is so badly decayed that it needs to be extracted. You teeth will slowly shift over time and the molar that opposes the extraction site will become supererupted. You might have the tooth extracted now and once your life is settled down, you could have an implant placed in that area.

Please don''t hesitate to call us if you need any information at:1-888-790-0309

Elizabeth O''Sullivan-Winslow DDS

2008-10-08T09:57:00.001-07:00

My mother had a large tooth removed from her lower right side a couple of weeks ago. It seems to be healing well around the gap, however, a large lump has appeared to the inside of her gum (where the tongue rests)which looks quite hard (almost bone-like). Is this normal - it''s making her very unhappy.

What you are seeing might be a post-operative problem or infection from the tooth extraction, or it might be tori (bony growths) that often occur along the inside border of the lower jaw. You might just be seeing for the first time something that has been there for years.

You need to have your doctor check this out to be sure there is not a problem present.

Chuck Campbell, DDS

2008-10-06T05:43:00.001-07:00

pls my gum was swollen for up to 3days and after that i noticed that there is a small space between my gum and my lower right molar,it bleeds when i brush but it doesnt hurt as much as before,i also noticed that i had a painful lymph node under right side of my chin and also i was feeling some pain on the right side of my neck just below my ear,pls i''ll like to know what exactly to do,was also having cold and was taking advil which also has ibruofen and this stopped the pain in my gum and neck.i''ld like to know wat exactly to do.thanks

Dear Kimberly,

It sounds like you may have developed a tooth abcess . You may need to have a Root Canal or an Extraction depending on the damage the abcess has created to the bone structure surrounding the tooth. I would advise you to give us a call so we can help you.

Elizabeth O''Sullivan-Winslow DDS 1-888-790-0309

2008-10-06T05:31:00.001-07:00

My 7 year old daughter has developed a tooth abcess. What must I do?

You should take her to see your dentist or better yet a pedodontist who is a children''s dentist for him/her to exam the area of the tooth abcess.The abcess can affect the growth and possibly damage the structure of the permanent tooth.The baby tooth may need to be extracted. Should you have any more questions,please don''t hesitate to call us at 1-888-790-0309

2008-10-02T12:07:00.001-07:00

my crown fell out and was put back in by a dentist. however it recently it cracked. there is a tiny hole on the inside part my tooth. what now? how can they seal that? i dont want to go back to the dentist because he''s too far a commute.

It is perfectly OK to re-cement a crown that has come off and it is simple. When the porcelain cracks, it can be innocent - (sometimes these areas are just polished up for tongue comfort) ... or it can indicate trouble - new decay or fracture of the root -- with a fix ranging from a repair filling to a new crown to losing the tooth if fractured beyond repair.... impossible to tell you without an exam that includes x-rays.

Chuck Campbell, DDS

(713) 795-5905

2008-10-02T12:01:00.001-07:00

I need an expert opinion. Age 70 Teeth 12 & 13 need to be removed. Implants out of the question. Cantilever bridge recommended. Here''s the question. How many natural teeth need to attached to the bridge? Recommendations range from 3 to 7.Hoping you experts will think that 4 retainer crowns will be sufficient. I''m also wondering where the weakest point is.I''m doing all my chewing on the right side which is in good shape at this time.Respectfully...

The question you ask is more complicated than you suspect. It is perfectly fine to cantilever pontics, and a minimum of 2 teeth is needed for this project. In cases where the teeth involved are not strong, then more teeth are needed - a judgement call. Sometimes it is better advice to use all the teeth on that arch in the prosthesis.

I wonder why implants are out of the question in your mind. Has this been told to you? With a minimum of bone present, implants can be placed, or in the absence of bone in this area, bone grafting can be done to create the foundation for implants. It sounds like you need a more complete examination and treatment options that include all of your choices, including the use of implants for support.

The use of dental implants makes a much stronger foundation for any type of project you have in mind. I have done implants on patients much older than you.

Chuck Campbell, DDS

(713) 795-5905

2008-10-02T11:45:00.001-07:00

hi.i have been diagnosed with slight Periodontal disease. it seems the treatment is to open up my gums, cut away thecronicly irritated gum and that should take care. i do have a sight receding gum line, and aftre seeing the xrays, it seems there is a sligh bone loss. can this be repaired?thanx.Tony

Sorry aobut the delay. We have had trouble with our server since the hurricane.

In the past periodontal disease had been treated by conventional surgery. The surgeon cuts the gum tissue and pushes it back to access the roots in order to remove bad tissue and infrection. The surgeon would place sutures for the healing phase. This cut and sew type of surgery has a long and painful recovery. Now we can accomplish the same results with laser periodontal surgery. This type of surgery is no cut, no sew. The patient has relatively minor discomfort and the results are equal to traditional periodontal surgery. At our office this is how we treat periodontal disease. Please do not hesitiate to contact me if you have any further questions.

Dale J. Brant, DDS

888.790.0309

2008-10-02T11:42:00.001-07:00

Sorry aobut the delay. We have had trouble with our server since the hurricane.

Dale J. Brant, DDS

888.790.0309

2008-09-15T10:42:00.001-07:00

probably spelled it wrong but OK. My teeth are very embarassing, they look like the inside of a toilet bowl that has not been cleaned in about a decade. I can''t wear white or lipstick. I brush my teeth 2 times per day and floss but no one could tell. I have many analgram fillings with mercury and I am worried about potential side effects. Would it be best to make a "clean slate " and just yank them all out? I have not had a dentist appointment in 4 years because the news is always bad. I am so self conscious about my smile, it has really affected my ability to meet people. I also know many reputatble dentists don''t believe that mercury in fillings harm patients but I''m worried about killing off the few brain cells I have left. The last time I saw a dentist I was told that my enamel was so porous and thin that veneers would not work. I also need to get something within my price range. I have about $3000.00 I could spend to fix this problem. Any ideas? Tbanks for you time

Thanks for your inquiry. It is very diffiult to determine your dental needs. The first thing that you need to do is to go to a dentist and have a thorough evaluation of your dental needs. You may be surprised what can be done to help you out. Once this is done your dentist will be able to determine what needs to be done first and prioritize your dental needs.

Dale J. Brant, DDS

888.790.0309

2008-09-15T10:17:00.001-07:00

I had opened(3 years back) the cap of the cold drink bottle by teeth because of that there is a cut in my below right first big tooth.That cut is 20 % of the tooth.Now I suffered from a pain in mouth after every 3-4 days.Every Suggestion is fruitful for me?

Thanks for your inquiry. It is difficult to tell what your needs are according to your posting. My suggestion is to seek a dentist and have them determine what your dental needs are.

Dale J. Brant, DDS

888.790.0309